3.1 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to provide authority, policy, and guidance on the execution of the American Indian/Alaskan Native Higher Education Consortium within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service).
3.2 Policy. The Service's policy is to develop programs and coordinate activities to increase employment opportunities for American Indian/Alaskan Native students.
3.3 Definition. American Indian/Alaskan Native is defined as a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North America, and who maintains cultural identification through community recognition or tribal affiliation.
3.4 Responsibility.
A. The Chief, Office for Human Resources serves as the principal advisor to the Director on issues concerning the execution of the American Indians/Alaskan Natives Higher Education Consortium within the Service.
B. Assistant and Regional Directors will ensure that the American Indian/Alaskan Native Higher Education Consortium is implemented within the programs, activities and Region for which they are responsible.
C. The Assistant Regional Directors for Human Resources and the Human Resources Officer - Headquarters provide program leadership and direction at the Regional level and are responsible for coordination of all Regional American Indian/Alaskan Native Higher Education Consortium activities.
3.5 Program Development.
A. The American Indian/Alaskan Native Higher Education Consortium will be used as a way to provide opportunities to American Indian/Alaskan Native graduate and undergraduate students. Opportunities may be provided through permanent employment, part-time employment, summer employment, and student employment program appointments.
B. Students are hired to work on projects or other work-related activities that help to achieve the Service's mission.
C. The Service may provide American Indian/Alaskan Native faculty/Service employee exchanges.
D. The Service may donate surplus equipment to American Indian/Alaskan Native institutions.
E. The Service will work with the staff of American Indian/Alaskan Native schools in the development of fish and wildlife biology curriculum to increase the number of minority students in the biological field.
3.6 Recruitment. The Service will participate in career days, job fairs, and other on-campus career orientation and recruitment activities at American Indian/Alaskan Native Programs in an effort to provide information on career opportunities, career ladder positions, and benefits within the Service. These recruitment efforts apply especially where the Service is involved in managing fish and wildlife resources for which American Indians/Alaskan Natives have management authority.
3.7 Cooperative Agreements. The Service will establish cooperative agreements with American Indian/Alaskan Native students/schools in an effort to provide quality educational/work opportunities to American Indian/Alaskan Native students.
3.8 Partnerships.
A. The Service will establish partnerships agreements with American Indian/Alaskan Native schools and schools with a high enrollment of American Indian/Alaskan Native students to create an incentive for students to stay in school and pursue careers with the Service with special emphasis on the natural resources' field.
B. The Service, through outreach activities, will encourage partnership agreements and student exchanges between American Indian/Alaskan Native schools and other institutions.
3.9 Reporting Requirements. The Office for Human Resources will submit an annual accomplishment report of American Indian/Alaskan Native higher education activities as a part of the Minorities in Higher Education Program and Accomplishment Report (RO64-0A) to the Departmental Office for Equal Opportunity. The report responds to an annual request from the OEO and generally covers the funds obligated to American Indian/Alaskan Native Higher Education Consortium, the number of students hired under summer employment, the number of students in the Student Career Experience Program (formerly Cooperative Education), conversions to career conditional and career appointments and future plans program plans.